TIL a leaky sleeping pad taught me to test gear before the trip.

I was camped at Hocking Hills in Ohio when my Therm-a-Rest went flat at 2 AM on a 40 degree night. Spent the rest of the night shivering in my car, so now I inflate everything in the living room a day before I leave. Has anyone else had a piece of gear fail right when you needed it most?

2 comments

2 Comments

oscarh1623d ago

Brought a brand new camp stove to the Grand Canyon once and the igniter died on the first night. The wind was howling and I had to use my car lighter to get the fire going. Now I test everything in the driveway before a trip.

karenlane22d ago

Why are you blaming the stove when it sounds like you didn't even check if the igniter worked before you left? That's on you, not the gear. I mean, honestly, who buys a camp stove and trusts it to work without a quick test at home first? The wind was probably the real problem anyway, not the igniter. If you had packed a backup lighter or matches like a smart camper, you wouldn't have needed to run back to your car.